On January 12, 2013 Kutaisi University together with Akaki Tsereteli State University and Academy of Educational Sciences of Georgia held a joint scientific-practical conference dedicated to the 80th anniversary of academician Varlam Kelbakiani.
Plenary session was held at Akaki Tsereteli State University were Academician V. Kelbakiani worked for several decades.
Welcome speeches were made by Prof. Lela Kelbakiani, Rector of Kutaisi University, Prof. Giorgi Ghavtadze, Rector of Akaki Tsereteli State University, Assoc. Prof. Vladimer Adeishvili, Dean of the Faculty of Pedagogics, ATSU, Prof. Iasha Meskhia, Tbilisi Javakhishvili State University, Vice-president of the Academy of Economic Sciences of Georgia. They paid tribute to Varlam Kelbakiani, a distinguished scientist and public figure, described his exemplary life and his personality. It was noted that he was the first in Georgia to do his doctoral dissertation in methodology of teaching mathematics; he developed new directions in research and laid foundation of a new school of research which has been successful ever since. At the time of hardship for our country he founded a private higher educational institution which is today considered as one of the more prestigious educational centres and his descendents have not let the standard fall.
Plenary speakers included Acad. Natela Vasadze, Honorary President of the Academy of Educational Sciences of Georgia, Prof. G. Berdzulishvili and Assoc. Prof. D. Shavianidze, Prof. R. Goletiani and Prof. G. Ghavtadze.
The conference continued in three sections – pedagogics, methodology of teaching mathematics and education management. Conference proceedings including 80 papers presented at the conference have been published.
What was evident throughout the conference was close connection between the generations, readiness to tackle serious issues in science as well as human relationships, values that Acad. Varlam Kelbakiani, a man always full of love and warmth, held very dear.